Sept. 5, 2008
Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov
Michael Curie
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4715
michael.curie@nasa.gov
Kyle Herring
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
kyle.j.herring@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 08-224
NASA CHANGES 2008 SHUTTLE TARGET LAUNCH DATES, SCHEDULES TCDT
HOUSTON - NASA has adjusted the target launch dates for the two
remaining space shuttle missions in 2008. Shuttle Atlantis' STS-125
mission to the Hubble Space Telescope is targeted for Oct. 10, while
Endeavour's STS-126 supply mission to the International Space Station
has moved to Nov. 12.
Shuttle managers made the decision after Atlantis was rolled to the
launch pad and the effects of Tropical Storm Hanna were beyond NASA's
Kennedy Space Center in Florida. That allowed managers to more
accurately assess the impacts of recent tropical systems on the
launch schedule.
Atlantis began rolling from Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building to
Launch Pad 39A Thursday at 9:19 a.m. EDT. The shuttle arrived at the
pad at approximately 2 p.m. and was secured at 3:52 p.m. Atlantis now
is targeted to launch at approximately 12:33 a.m. EDT, Friday, Oct.
10. NASA Television coverage of launch will begin at 7:30 p.m. EDT on
Thursday, Oct. 9. The 11-day flight will include five spacewalks to
repair and upgrade the Hubble telescope. Atlantis is scheduled to
land at approximately 10:21 p.m., Oct. 20.
Scott Altman will command STS-125, with Gregory C. Johnson serving as
pilot. Mission specialists include veteran spacewalkers John
Grunsfeld and Mike Massimino, and first-time space fliers Andrew
Feustel, Michael Good and Megan McArthur.
Endeavour will close 2008 with a 15-day mission to deliver supplies
and cargo to the space station. During the STS-126 mission, NASA
astronaut Sandra Magnus will replace Greg Chamitoff as an Expedition
18 crew member on the station. Chamitoff will return to Earth after
five months in space. The mission's targeted launch time is 8:43 p.m.
EST, Nov. 12. Landing will occur at approximately 2:45 p.m., Nov. 27.
Chris Ferguson will command STS-126, with Eric Boe serving as pilot.
Mission specialists will be Steve Bowen, Shane Kimbrough, Heidemarie
Stefanyshyn-Piper, Donald Pettit, Magnus and Chamitoff.
The formal launch dates for space shuttle flights are determined
during the Flight Readiness Review, which is conducted about two
weeks before launch. The STS-125 review is scheduled for Sept. 22-23.
The review for STS-126 is scheduled for Oct. 30.
An STS-125 launch dress rehearsal, known as the terminal countdown
demonstration test, or TCDT, is scheduled to take place at Kennedy
Sept. 22-24. The test provides each shuttle crew with an opportunity
to participate in simulated countdown activities, including equipment
familiarization and emergency training.
The following media events are associated with the test. All times are
Eastern.
- Sept. 21 - STS-125 crew arrival: The astronauts will arrive at 7
p.m. at the Shuttle Landing Facility and make a brief statement. The
arrival will be not be broadcast live on NASA Television, but will
replay as a NASA TV Video File.
- Sept. 23 - STS-125 crew availability: The crew will take news media
questions at Launch Pad 39A at 8:30 a.m. The event will be carried
live on NASA TV.
- Sept. 24 - STS-125 crew walkout photo opportunity: The astronauts
will depart from the Operations and Checkout Building at 7:45 a.m.
wearing their launch and entry suits in preparation for the countdown
demonstration test at the launch pad. The walkout will not be
broadcast live, but will be included in the NASA TV Video File.
Dates and times of events are subject to change. Schedule updates are
available at 321-867-2525.
Foreign media must apply for accreditation online by 4 p.m., Friday,
Sept. 5. U.S. media without permanent Kennedy Space Center
credentials must apply for accreditation online by 4 p.m., Tuesday,
Sept. 16, at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
To attend crew arrival, reporters must pick up badges before 4 p.m.,
Friday, Sept. 19, at the Kennedy badging facility on State Road 405.
For information about covering these events, including proper attire
and meeting locations, credentialed media should visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/media.html
Video B-roll of the terminal countdown demonstration test will be
available on the NASA TV Video File. For NASA TV downlink
information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
For more information about the International Space Station, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/station
For more about the two remaining shuttle missions of 2008, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
-end-